Summer Eats!

Friday, May 8, 2015

Grocery shopping in the city is not for the weak.

For starters, most people walk to get their groceries and inevitably end up with "grocery arm" on the way home. This is the feeling you get in your arm when you think it might fall off. Spoiler alert: it's even worse the next day!

In the winter I typically drive, but then I have to walk at least a block back to my house because street parking is hit or miss (most times miss.) This past winter my brown grocery bag broke on me three different occasions causing all of my food to roll onto the dirty snow covered Chicago sidewalk. And yes, it was just as dramatic as it sounds.

So when I got the chance to try Blue Apron and have fresh ingredients delivered right to my doorstep, I said heck yes.

If you're not familiar with Blue Apron let me break it down for you and show you a few photos of the meals we cooked. The recipes are delivered in a refrigerated box so ingredients will stay fresh even if you’re not at home when your package arrive.

They offer a two person meal plan and a family meal plan. Chris and I opted for the two person plan (much to Harlow's dismay.) The price is $9.99 per person per meal, the shipping is free.

Initially I tried Blue Apron because I liked the idea of getting fresh ingredients delivered right to my door, but what I ended up loving most about it is that it got me out of my "I make this same meal every week" cooking rut! I found three great new recipes that take less than 40 minutes to cook and both are between 500-700 calories per person.

If you're ready to give it a try click here and the first 50 to sign up will get two free meals on their first Blue Apron order! And PS there’s no commitment – you can skip or cancel the service at any time!

I just signed up for Blue Apron and tried it for the first time this week. The Crispy fish tacos are delicious! I hate meal planning and always end up eating the same boring meals every day (or going out to eat) so I was excited to give this service a whirl.

I never got bad grocery arm, but did have awkward bike rides of 3-5 miles when I got groceries in Skokie or far-south Evanston and returned them to Northwestern, between 2009 and 2013. The benefits of having bike panniers!

These meals sound good, especially the shrimp, but you had me dying of laughter with grocery arm! My favorite store is eight blocks and one avenue away and by the time I get to the foot of the stairs of my walk-up I feel like I am going to die.

Living in North East Scotland ( 2 adults ) , I have been in NYC several times and am totally bamboozled how anyone who isn,t rich , only a couple, far less a family manages to buy the weekly basic groceries/toiletries in one place. Where are the giant supermarkets (who deliver) and how do these city dwellers survive with the teeny corner stores ? Mind boggled!!! X